Reaction Paper: Palm Jumeirah
Coastal development refers to the construction of structures or any modifications
made to the natural coastline. Such structures may include lodging areas, restaurants, hotels,
and other retail spaces. Coastal development may also refer to humans altering the
environment by removing natural features to make more room for beaches.
Mega developments such as the Palm Jumeirah is an example of developments made
along coastal areas. This has been a very iconic advancement constructed in Dubai, UAE.
Coastal developments like Palm Jumeirah are highly advantageous in the aspect of economic
gains because coastal regions are well-liked tourist attractions. Not only that, tourists can also
experience relaxation and leisure activities including playing, relaxing, swimming, snorkeling,
and diving on coastal grounds. I personally consider this a critical upside point of coastal area
developments. Especially now where burnouts, exhaustion, and mental health problem rates
are continually ascending, a coastal destination can be of great help to somehow minimize
these issues. An addition to the benefits of developments in coastal areas is employment
generation. Significant employment has been created as a result of the swift expansion of
international or coastal tourism. Coastal development can generate jobs directly through
hotels, restaurants, taxis, souvenir sales and indirectly through the supply of goods and
services needed by tourism-related businesses.
As much as it is nice to witness such beautiful developments with great economic
benefits, these things also have their disadvantages. The main disadvantage of coastal
developments like Palm Jumeirah is the negative impact it gives on the natural environment.
Coastal land’s natural features are harmed by replacing them with man-made ones.
Developments that spreads out into the ocean, creating tangles of structures beneath the
water’s surface wrecks marine life and their habitats. Coral reefs that supports fisheries and
shields coastline from more powerful waves are being declined. After more searching,
according to some claims, the Palm Jumeirah archipelago in Dubai is truly sinking. May it be
true or not, it is still a fact that building on dredged sediments has risks for inhabitants, as the
layers aren’t as secure as hard bedrock on land. Moreover, a decrease in the aquatic life in the
region, erosion of the coastal soil, and erratic sediment flow along the shore are only a few of
the significant environmental effects brought on by the creation of the Palm islands off the
coast of Dubai. The rock walls built around the palm islands have also had a significant
impact on the wave patterns along Dubai's coast; now, instead of immediately hitting the
coastlines, the waves flow in an irregular way around the new obstruction. This has caused
Dubai's coastline to deteriorate. This alarming scenarios can also happen to many other
coastal developments all over the world.
From my point of view, it is beautiful to think that a lot of professionals are capable
and knowledgeable enough to think of such mind-blowing ways to improve one’s place and
generate loads of benefits from it. However, if such ways will result to great environmental
risks and potential hazards, it will be a no for me. In my opinion, no matter how beautiful the
outcome of the development looks, if huge destruction to the natural environment was made, I
firmly believe that the negative comeback of the environment to us will be greater in the
future. Conserving and protecting our environment is still the foundation for sustaining our
planet, community, and economy. If we fail to protect it, we will put the lives of humans and
other marine creatures at risk.
REFERENCES:
Global IGBP Change. (2014, May 8). Coastal megacities: Risk and Opportunities.
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Johnson, M. (2022, October 29). The Impact of Coatal Developments on Ecosystems.
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ming%2C%20snorkeling%2C%20and%20diving.
Coastal Wiki. (n.d.). Impact of tourism in coastal areas: Need of sustainable tourism
strategy. Retrieved from:
http://www.coastalwiki.org/wiki/Impact_of_tourism_in_coastal_areas:_Need_of_sust
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Nogrady, B. (2016, Novermber 1). As urban areas get more crowded, building new land and even
floating homes is becoming more economic – but is it storing up future problems? . Retrieved from:
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20161101-the-benefits-and-downsides-of-building-into-the-sea